Joanna Ballard's blend of original stories, poetry, and folk tales from the cultures that have settled in Louisiana along with her unique performance delights both young and old. Joanna. Ballard engages the audience in dialog and often gets them to participate with her in the art of storytelling.
Joanna's lifelong love of words and stories carries over in her enthusiastic storytelling adding flair and flavor to her shows.
Storytelling Performances: New Iberia Terror on the Teche 2016, Halloween Party October 2015, South Central Shriners Ladies Luncheon May 2013, Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge Art Camp April 2012 The Red Shoes 2011, The Ultimate Louisiana Party, Marlin Texas, 2011
The ladies luncheon was a great success and they loved your stories. I thought the interacton with the ladies was a big plus.
South Central Shrine Association
Price Range: Contact for rates
Gig Length: 30 - 60 minutes
Languages: English
A simple solo performances of folk tales collected from the different cultures that have settled Louisiana as well as tales from my growing up years. Depending on venue interaction with audience on the art of storytelling and what stories are all about in the oral tradition and some history of the art.
Joanna Ballard is a Northwest Louisiana native now living in Baton Rouge Louisiana and a current member of the Trapped Truth Society, former member of the Shreveport Writers’ Registry, the Red River Storytellers, the Northwest Louisiana Art Gallery, and was a founding member of the West Edge Artists Co-op. Ms. Ballard began her storytelling and writing career before she could read or write by creating her own songs and stories. She was first published at the age of 16 and has been widely published and won numerous contests. Joanna earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a Theater Minor from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia AR in 1986. Her lifelong love of words and stories carries over in her enthusiastic storytelling adding flair and flavor to her shows.
Joanna's blend of original stories, poetry, and folk tales from the cultures that have settled in Louisiana along with her unique performance delights both young and old. Joanna. Ballard engages the audience in dialog and often gets them to participate with her in the art of storytelling.
Joanna Ballard also shares her stories in other formats as an artist intertwining her love for words and color digitally in her own self styled “poetic art”, as well as creating folk art jewelry on leather and hemp with vintage beads. Her art has grown out of her gift for and enjoyment of sharing her stories through web design photography, and other mediums.
Her work has been shown and juried into the top galleries and museum in Shreveport, Louisiana as well as in Hollywood, California, Norfolk, Virginia, Dallas, Texas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to mention a few. Joanna has plans for future multimedia works, as well as performances blending her stationary art, movement and words.
Recent Storytelling Performances: Halloween Children's Party October 2015, Baton Rouge, South Central Shriners Ladies Luncheon May 2013, Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge Art Camp April 2012, Women in the Visual and Performing Arts, Baton Rouge March 2012,The Red Shoes, Baton Rouge Feb 2011, The Ultimate Louisiana Party, Marlin Texas, May 2011
Storytelling Performance Career Highlights: Shreveport Louisiana, Multicultural Center of the South Literacy Program Shreveport, Louisiana, International Heritage Festival, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Art and Soul Festival Natchez, Mississippi. Reggae on the Mississippi River Festival, Vidalia Louisiana, Red River Revel Shreveport Louisiana, Mud Bug Madness Shreveport, Louisiana
Recent Art Exhibitions: "N" the Art Space Open House ~ Guest Artist, Baton Rouge, La, Art in the Yard, New Orleans, La, Stabbed in the Art, Baton Rouge, La
Art Exhibitions Career Highlights: The Lost Ones: The Faces of the Homeless and Those Who Dare to Care (one woman show), How Katrina Plays Gala Hollywood, California, Bayou Boogaloo and Cajun Food Festival Norfolk, Virginia Current the Aesthetics of Contemporary Culture, Baton Rouge, Louisiana White on White Exhibition Barnwell Garden and Art Center Shreveport, Louisiana Paper Show Community Arts Center Fort Worth, Texas, The 1st Meadows Museum Northwest Louisiana Artists' Triennial Competition, Artspace Grand Opening Shreveport Louisiana
A simple stage one microphone depending on venue, I am old school trained and can project well
| September 28, 2019 • 12:00am - 11:59pm | Trunk Show |
| July 26, 2019 • 7:00pm - 11:00pm | You Aren't Alone (visual & performing art event) |
| June 01, 2019 • 11:00am - 1:00pm | Neighborfest |
| June 15, 2016 • 1:30pm - 2:30pm | School Assembly |
| May 16, 2013 | Luncheon/Tea |
I have folktales from the cultures that have settled in Louisiana always collecting new ones. Can fit my stories around any theme given enough advance notice ;-)
| Joanna Ballard Louisiana Storyteller | Storyteller |
A microphone if venue requires it. I am old school trained and can project well.
Bridget C. said “Our preschool children (ages 2-5) loved this show. It was age-appropriate, funny, and engaging. These folks are professional and pleasant to work with…”
Kim A. said “We hired Peekaboo faces a couple of years ago and it was a hit!!! All the kids loved having their faces painted from all different types of characters…”
Dana R. said “Chatty was awesome! We had 500 children in the audience and they loved every minute!!!”
Cassandra B. said “Incredibly funny! Invited her to speak to our annual Women's Christmas Tea. Would definitely book her again!”
